What is coughing?
Coughing is a reflex mechanism in which the body self-protects its airway by • Clearing the airway from debris, so that air can travel to the lungs. Without coughing to clear the airway, airflow to the lungs may be impeded. • Forcing expiration in the presence of airway obstruction. For example, during an asthma exacerbation, coughing forces air through a narrowed airway, thereby helping with ventilation. Remember, coughing is a protective mechanism. What is a cold? Colds are upper respiratory infections (URI’s). They involve infections in the nasal passage, throat, sinuses, and sometimes the eyes. They usually present with running nose and coughing. Coughing from colds is mainly due to mucous dripping down from the nose, through the throat (“postnasal drip”), and down to the windpipe (trachea). Because the mucous can cause debris buildup in the airway when it reaches the trachea, coughing occurs to clear the debris. This “dripping” of mucous down from the nose to the trachea increases
